Historian Thomas Cahill, speaking of the violent origin of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, observed that “there are humiliations a proud people—even one oppressed for generations—cannot abide”. Indeed. It may take time, and require repeated provocation, but eventually a man must come to realize that there are certain things in life worth fighting for. Perhaps, when we appreciate the truth of this, we can better understand the heart of God.

Like the Jews before Christ, we, too, live in a world at war. We are supposed to fight back. It is apparently a difficult reality to embrace, as witnessed by the passivity that marks much of modern Christianity. We just want the Christian life to be all about the sweet love of Jesus. But that is not what’s going on here. you may not like the situation, but that only makes it unattractive—it does not make it untrue.